Based on the Articles of Confederation having been adopted in York by the Second Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, the local government and business community began referring to York in the 1960s as the first capital of the United States of America. The designation has been debated by historians ever since.[3] Congress considered York and the borough of Wrightsville on the eastern side of York County along the Susquehanna River as the nation's permanent capital before Washington, D.C. was selected.[4]
An Oakland Run waterfall near the Mason-Dixon Trail in southeast York County in October 2009A farm in York County in June 2007
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 911 square miles (2,360 km2), of which 904 square miles (2,340 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (0.7%) is water.[6] The county is bound to its eastern border by the Susquehanna River. Its southern border is the Mason–Dixon line, which separates Pennsylvania and Maryland. Within the U.S. piedmont region, York County is generally hilly and rises to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwest, where it is bordered by Yellow Breeches Creek. Interior waterways include Codorus and Conewago Creeks, and Lakes Lehman,[7] Kiwanis, Marburg, Pahagaco, Pinchot, Redman, and Williams.[8]
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14] 1990–2000[15] 2010–2019[1]
As of the 2000 census,[16] there were 381,751 people, 148,219 households, and 105,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 422 people per square mile (163 people/km2). There were 156,720 housing units at an average density of 173 units per square mile (67/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.76% White, 3.69% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.39% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.96% of the population. 42.0% were of German, 12.6% American, 7.7% Irish, 6.4% English and 5.1% Italian ancestry. 94.8% spoke English and 2.9% Spanish as their first language.
There were 148,219 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.
As of 2006, the York-Hanover Metropolitan Statistical Area was the fastest-growing metro area in the Northeast region, and was ranked among the fastest-growing in the nation, according to the "2006 Population Estimates for Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas" (U.S. Census Bureau). The estimates listed York-Hanover as the 95th fastest-growing metro area in the nation, increasing 9.1 percent between 2000 and 2006.
York city had a 77.3 percent increase in the number of residents of Hispanic or Latino origin, based on a comparison of the 2000 and 2010 U.S. census results.[17] The city's 30.9 percent Hispanic population (as of December 2017) is more than that of other places in the area.[18]
Prior to 1952, York County was a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections, voting majority Republican only four times before then. Between the founding of the party in 1828 and 1900, the county voted Democratic every time, one of only a handful of counties in Pennsylvania to do so.[23] Starting with the 1952 election, it has become a Republican stronghold with Lyndon Johnson being the lone Democrat to win the county since. Since then, Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008 are the only Democratic presidential candidates who have received over 40% of the county's vote, and George H. W. Bush in 1992 is the only Republican not to win a majority. The only real pockets of Democratic support are in the city of York, which has sent Democrats to the state house without interruption since 1985.
United States presidential election results for York County, Pennsylvania[24]
According to the Secretary of State's office, a majority of voters in York County are registered as Republicans. As of March 4, 2024, there were 310,874 registered voters in the county.[25]
Lincoln Intermediate Unit (IU#12) region includes Adams County, Franklin County and York County. The agency offers school districts, home schooled students and private schools many services including: special education services, combined purchasing, and instructional technology services. It runs Summer Academy which offers both art and academic strands designed to meet the individual needs of gifted, talented and high achieving students. Additional services include: Curriculum Mapping, Professional Development for school employees, Adult Education, Nonpublic School Services, Business Services, Migrant & ESL (English as a Second Language), Instructional Services, Management Services, and Technology Services. It also provides a GED program to adults who want to earn a high school diploma and literacy programs. The Lincoln Intermediate Unit is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, each a member of a local school board from the 25 school districts. Board members are elected by school directors of all 25 school districts for three-year terms that begin the first day of July.[38] There are 29 intermediate units in Pennsylvania. They are funded by school districts, state and federal program specific funding and grants. IUs do not have the power to tax.
Map of York County with municipal labels showing cities and boroughs (in red), townships (in white), and census-designated places (in blue)
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in only one case, towns. York County has 72 of these. The following cities, boroughs and townships are in York County:
Caitlan Coleman, a hostage in Afghanistan for five years, during which time she gave birth to four children
Jacob L. Devers, four-star lieutenant general during World War II; commanded the 6th Army Group during the invasion of southern France known as Operation Dragoon
^"York, Pennsylvania Demographics Data". TownCharts. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2018. ... York shows it has 30.9% people who are Hispanic or Latino which is more than all other places in the area.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
Gibson, John, ed. A Biographical History of York County, Pennsylvania (Genealogical Publishing Com, 1886). Online: archive.org
Marcello, Ronald E. Small Town America in World War II: War Stories from Wrightsville, Pennsylvania (University of North Texas Press, 2014) 452 pp. ISBN9781574415513
Prowell, George Reeser. History of York County, Pennsylvania. Vol. 1. (JH Beers, 1907). Online: Vol.1 google booksarchive.org, Vol 2. archive.org
Sheets, Georg R.York County: To the Setting of the Sun : An Illustrated History (American Historical Press. 2nd Edition, 2002)
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